Electroacupuncture attenuates ketamine-induced neuronal injury in the locus coeruleus of rats through modulation of the CAMK II/CREB pathway

•Repeated administration of ketamine can lead to neuronal injury in the Locus coeruleus (LC) and neurobehavioral dysfunction.•Ketamine induced the overexpression of CAMK II and p-CERB protein in the LC.•Electroacupuncture (EA) can reduce neuronal injury in the LC and improve neurobehavioral symptoms induced by ketamine.•EA has the potential to mitigate these adverse effects by modulating the CAMKII/CREB pathway.